Reading FC Match Report: 2016/2017 Season - Championship

12 January 2017READING 0 QPR 1

Reading: -- QPR: J Mackie (28)

In a game in which Reading dominated possession without ever testing the Rangers 'keeper, John Mackie seized his opportunity midway through the first half to inflict a second home defeat of the season on his former club. It was a workmanlike performance from the visitors, content to sit back and frustrate Reading, and take advantage of mistakes to break out of their own half; and there were plenty of mistakes. It was not a good night for Reading or their fans. Having seen their team significantly underperform they heard Jaap Stam expressing frustration doubts about the uncertainty of ownership and future direction of the club on their journey home.

With weather warnings of adverse driving conditions deterring some from travelling, and with the game televised live, attendance was low. Reading started slowly and Rangers were in no mood to take the initiative – not that Reading allowed them much time on the ball. Errors began to creep into Reading’s play and players were getting caught in possession. Unable to penetrate a packed defence Reading tried to play the ball behind the visitor’s defence but were frequently caught offside by a well drilled back line.

The key moment came after twenty-seven minutes when Joey Van Den Berg carelessly gave the ball away on the half way line and Rangers broke quickly with Van den Berg never looking likely to recover. Having tracked Mackie’s run into the box Liam Kelly indulged in a spot of ball watching leaving the ex- Reading striker acres of space and time to hammer the only goal of the game past Al Habsi. Van den Berg looked good going forward and has excellent touch, but the responsibility and discipline required to play at centre back does not suit him. Not mention his lack of pace. Having said that he is the best option in McShane’s absence. Even falling behind failed to spark a reaction from the Royals and they might have gone even further behind as the error count mounted up. Jaap Stam underlined the general malaise after the game listing all the fundamental requirements of successful football missing from this evenings performance – good touch, accurate passing, decision making etc.

Rangers started the second half brightly but Reading and the home crowd finally roused themselves and Rangers had to work hard to maintain their lead. Beerens had a better half and began getting crosses in to the box, one of which Kermorgant really should have converted. Swift had one of his least effective games mainly due to Rangers closing him down quickly, but even when he did wriggle free he did not use the ball well. The closest Reading came to an equaliser was a Kermorgant header which skimmed the bar following a great run and cross by McCleary. In a chaotic second half Rangers looked more likely to score in spite of their lack of possession, and it took some desperate defending to keep Reading’s hopes of an equaliser alive to the end.

It was disappointing to slip up having such a good chance to close in on the automatic promotion spot, although on tonight’s showing if Reading are going to have a chance of promotion, and I would certainly not rule it out, it will have to be via the play-offs.
John Wells

Post Match Fans' Opinion

CountryRoyal

» 12 Jan 2017 22:45

Started writing this with 6 minutes left on the clock because it was so obvious to absolutely everyone that we were never getting anything out of this.

oxf*rd atrocious. One of the worst performances of the season, almost as frustrating as Wolves away.

So sloppy, so disjointed, complacency everywhere, no anticipation, second best to everything, unnacurate, soft, careless, clueless and generally shit.

I'd say it's an off day at the office but this is how we played for most of Bristol City and we were just as inept against Utd (better quality of opposition admittedly)

Moore and McCleary the only ones to really come out of that with any modicum of respectability.

Al-Habsi 5

Gunter 4
VDB 3
Moore 6
Obita 2

Swift 4
Kelly 5
Williams 3

McCleary 6
Kerm 4
Beerens 2

Stam 0 - Wrong tactics, wrong line up, wrong (lack there of) subs.

Only going one where playing like this and it's not oxf*rd up. I've had enough football for this week oxf*rd me this has possed me off. Ineptitidude of the highest order.

Kitsondinho

» 12 Jan 2017 22:46

We were better on Saturday. Which is hardly complimentary.

TBM

» 12 Jan 2017 22:48

FFS PLEASE STOP PLAYING VDB AT CENTRE HALF

AND BUY A FCUKING STRIKER

Avon Royal

» 12 Jan 2017 22:49

Agreed.

Ian Royal

» 12 Jan 2017 22:49

For all the negativity that there'll be (much of it fully justified), we were still only a whisker away from getting an equaliser a couple of times and rescuing a thoroughly underserved point. Obviously if QPR were any good they'd have scored several more themselves given the utter shambles our defence was, particularly JVDB.

For me, this is just pretty par for the course given where we're at and how we play. If the passing works well and we get an early goal, we'll do very well in a game. If we get frustrated and especially if the opposition knicks a lead, we'll huff and puff and commit suicide at the back repeatedly, and look absolutely shocking.

It's performances like this that make me think we aren't ready for promotion and certainly won't get it.

There's lots of positives to take forward for this team, if not this performance. But there are just way too many weak links right now.

Kitsondinho

» 12 Jan 2017 22:51

Agreed.
Potato ..... potatoe

CountryRoyal

» 12 Jan 2017 22:52

Difficult to see reason in the mood I am right now, but good post.

Perspective.

Stranded

» 12 Jan 2017 22:52

Awful, absolutely nobody seems up for this game tonight, including the fans given the crowd (understandable turnout with the weather around the area). How thing felt flat.

Every player off the pace, no invention and for the first half QPR were happy for us to have the ball as they knew we would give it back to them in our own half and give them an easy break. They took one and Mackie should have had two by HT.

We have 9 days to sort this out before Derby. Another performance like that and we will be ripped to shreds up there and confidence may start to disappear.

RichTea94

» 12 Jan 2017 22:53

Anyone else quite like the look of Meite when he came on? Fast and strong.

Ian Royal

» 12 Jan 2017 22:54

Difficult to see reason in the mood I am right now, but good post.

Perspective.

I'm missing a decent season, but it's much easier to maintain perspective when you don't have to travel 80 miles to watch your team be shit every other week.

An absolute stone cold must is that we don't fall apart and nosedive like we have done the last three seasons.

CountryRoyal

» 12 Jan 2017 22:54

Should have come on at 60 minutes for the the god awful Beerens.

bobby1413

» 12 Jan 2017 22:55

Did we only make 2 subs?

How can that be justified. Sure i can see that if we were having shot after shot saved and basically raping the goal keeper.